KMZ Tair-3 300mm f/4.5-22.0

Lens category

Long Telephoto

Vendor name

KMZ

Type name

Tair-3

Focal min (mm)

300

Focal max (mm)

300

Focus min (cm)

300

Aperture max

4.5

Aperture min

22

Filter size (mm)

72

A version known as “TAIR-3C” (Or Tair-3S) is supplied with the Zenit “FOTOSNAJPER” camera kit. This specialty kit comes with the lens, camera, and a rifle stock mount with shoulder butt, pistol grip, and shutter release trigger. This version uses a knob under the barrel to focus (when used with the gun stock) and a spring-loaded diaphragm release activated by the trigger.

Lens is really heavy and unwieldly so the special gunstock mount is a useful accessory.

Resolution: field centre= 34 lines/mm; field edge= 28 lines/mm (JyJ)

The Fotosnajper Tair-3S can be adapted for Canon digital SLRs. Camera will fit without major adaptation. Only an electronic cable release (specified for the camera) is needed to make the rifle stock mount efficient. See photo below of adapted 300D. (JyJ)

I managed to find a T2 adapter whose rotatable core matches the Tair 3 tube precisely, and so mine now has a PK bayonet. Wide open the images straight from the camera are somewhat lacking in contrast, although the detail is all there.